My name is Carlota Zimmerman and I'm the Creativity Yenta.™ And even though we haven't met, and this is crazy, I'm already in love with your creativity, passion and rich potential.
To help you achieve your goals and effectuate that potential, I'll create personalized and innovative strategies for you,organically based on your skills, experience and education.
You can choose to love your life...and I can help!

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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

For Her

Just a quick note to pay respects to a friend, A., who truly impressed me recently by demonstrating her personal commitment to her sense of self as an artist. That may seem like Oberlin College-inspired crunchy gibberish, but it's actually tremendously important. Because the only difference between successful people and unsuccessful people, is that successful people, eventually, learn from their mistakes and start listening to their gut and choose what to believe in...and what to reject. Eventually.
This friend is the poster child for making a comeback in one's own life. She's smart, funny, gorgeous...yes, I have a huge girl-crush on her. To meet her now, you'd never guess that she made some significantly bad choices in her life. Because guess what: she fought threw them, and started making positive choices. She learned from her mistakes.
I know, to some of you, I may sound like a broken record. Those are the people who have never made mistakes (yawn), or the people who are still stuck. I remember when I was stuck, a number of years ago, and I was ravenously envious of anyone who seemed even somewhat successful. I remember, for example, being deeply jealous of my doctor's receptionist since she seemed so perky and competent and clearly, she knew what the f**k she was doing with her life...right? (To be fair: I still think my doctor's receptionist is awesome, but I have no envy for what she has to put up with everyday. And I enjoy being me far too much! I have been a very good me this year...) Let's hope so...
Anyway, back to my friend: she recently wrote a memoir of some hard times in her life, how and why they happened, and how she flipped the script. She showed this memoir to a family friend...who also happens to be a very famous and talented writer. (The memoir, btw, is wonderful: funny, sexy, anti-crunchy. You're going to have to trust me on this, but since I routinely cite Nabokov and Bulgakov as sources, and not, say, the author of the 'Twatlight' series...I think you're safe to trust me.) This writer, besides being a longtime family friend was also one of her idols, a woman who inspired her to start writing in the first place. So what do you think happened?
Of course: the famous author hated it. She brutally dismissed it and my friend's story as being "unmarketable." She also dismissed my friend in a very public manner. (Klassy!)
But here's why I'm writing this: my friend just smiled, and politely said, "Okay, thanks for your insight. I still believe in my story." And she kept on believing and marketing her book. I. Love. THAT!!!
I love anyone who believes so strongly in the wisdom of their own voice that they have the courage to keep on keepin' on because THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT! Honestly, what's the alternative? Throw your dreams in the litter box and spend all day watching cartoons and getting drunk? (Oh dear god, how good does that sound, the drinking and watching cartoons part...? Sigh.)
But seriously: There is always (ALWAYS) going to be someone who thinks your dream is retarded, to put it bluntly. Someone who gets off on saying, "Does hell go with no?" So, there will always be someone to tell you you are wrong. The question then becomes, are you committed enough to yourself to tell yourself that you're right? I hope so.
(And if you want some help with that, email me @ carlotazee@gmail.com)

That (awesome) Girl...

I'm the Creativity Yenta™ and I specialize in bringing the awesome.™
For you kids playing along at home, that means I give my clients low-cost/high-impact solutions to their professional problems. Solutions that are personalized, creative and which originate from each person's unique goals, experience and personality.
This business grew organically from my own need to incorporate and expand on the skills I had developed through my various backgrounds--TV news, writing, theater and the legal industry. The strategies I use with clients are based on the very same strategies I personally used to achieve all of my own goals.
As the Creativity Yenta,™ I'm obsessed with getting everyone everywhere to use all of their passion, energy and intelligence in order to achieve their fullest potential. Go big or go home, son. For reals. #notplaying
Because...what other choice is there? You want to wallow in unhappiness, go somewhere else. I want you to experience the best you have to offer.
I've been described as "a combination coach, force of nature with a dash of hard ass, all necessary and helpful....!" Testify!
xo
Carlota, the Creativity Yenta™

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What The 99% Thinks:

"Carlota Zimmerman (Indiana Law ’07) is one of those students who goes on to inspire and teach the teacher. Carlota is an artist who relentlessly pulls on the strings of honesty and creativity. This choice requires tremendous courage, character and persistence. Through her writing, coaching and creativity endeavors, Carlota has a knack of helping us ask the hard, existential questions about our own settled worldview, all the while making us laugh. How do we really feel? Are we playing it too safe? Are we proud of the compromises and tradeoffs we are making? As someone teaching in a law school, I think these are the right questions, at least to live a full and meaningful life. I look forward to learning more."

-- Professor William D. Henderson, Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

“Carlota keeps it real! She is simply awesome! She wants her clients to succeed in reaching their full potential, as this is seen through her passion and enthusiasm. In seeing all Carlota has achieved and created for herself, she inspires me to want the same for myself. Carlota allows you to open up about how you feel, and where you want to be. She provides great insight and honest critique meant to bring out the best in you. We are all capable of reaching out fullest potential, but sometimes we need that extra push to realize it. Carlota is that push, and sometimes a good kick in the ass!” -Aaron Schane

"You probably knew this, but I'm going to share anyway: you own the market on this creativity yenta-ness. My Yiddish sucks, and when I Googled this, it's all you. Damn woman!" -Jessica Reagan

"...one of the snappiest-written blogs out there!"-Alison Potvin, http://www.kiva.org/lender/alisonpotvin

“Carlota is quite the unique professional trainer and coach. It would be unfair to pigeon-hole Carlota as a “Career Coach” as she inspires people (clients and friends alike) to achieve their optimal results whether that correlates to business or non-business objectives. Carlota possesses a diversified background in the news and entertainment business as well as being a published playwright and the holder of a Law degree. These traits contribute to her success in motivating people to achieve their best. All in all, Carlota cares and thus comes highly recommended.” -Phil Z.

Karin Torres: "So, I was offered an exciting gig and was asked to let them know, 'how I wanted to be compensated.' Just what everyone wants to hear, right? However, there were a lot of factors involved...and I knew I only had one chance to get it right. Immediately I thought of my friend Carlota Zimmerman. I knew she had the experience, giftings and professional know-how to assess all of those factors. More importantly, I knew that she would have my best interests at heart-not allowing me to sell myself short, but also keeping me focused on where I might need to sacrifice to get future business. In short...she helped me come to a decision that I am comfortable and confident about. We all need to draw from each other's experience, abilities and gifting to find new creative ways to make it in this economy. I needed a professional sounding board and specialized guidance...she was the first person I thought of."

"As a freelancer/small business owner, it can be overwhelming trying to get your information out there...especially when you have a very limited advertising budget. Carlota literally held my hand and guided me through the world of social networking, teaching me how to use this technology to promote my business....She is more than just a creativity coach, she has become an inspiration and a friend. If you value your business/career, you should consider hiring her." -Margie Bresciani, www.margiemakeup.com

"I have never known such great devotion to make the most out of any situation. No matter the circumstances, there is always the desire to move forward in anything and get the best out of every person. Faithfulness, commitment, persistence, endurance and even a sense of fun are always present. But enough about The Kitten: Carlota is great. In all seriousness, Carlota's mentoring and coaching have been an invaluable help for us. We cannot say enough about how helpful she has been and we would gladly recommend her career coaching services to everyone. Thank you again, Carlota." Dom Travano